Stand-In Star

by Rachael Johns

  “My brother has more sense than I thought.”

  He turned to Bec. “Don’t you have anything more important to do? Like eat another cream puff.”

  His sister patted her hips. “I’ll have to pass but I do have to go to the fabric store. Can I leave you guys to lock up?”

  “Yes,” Nate answered, not looking at Bec because his eyes were fixated on Holly as she wrestled with the wig trying to get it to sit properly on her head. Without thought, he said, “Here, let me help.”

  She narrowed her eyes at him suspiciously but pulled the wig off her head anyway. Her hair fell messily over her shoulders.

  “I think we need to put your hair up before we put the wig on again.” It would make it easier. Nothing to do with the fact that he liked the look of her bare neck.

  She pulled a rubber hair band off her wrist and, using her fingers as a brush, scooped her hair into a knot at the top of her head. He picked up the wig, something inside him shifting as he stepped close enough to maneuver it on to her head. That damn vanilla scent toyed with his nostrils again.

  His fingertips brushed the sides of her face and she gasped as he positioned the fake hair. She looked into his eyes and then looked quickly to the floor. He dug under the wig to tug it down, his muscles tightening as he touched her silky hair and his fingers itching to further explore. It had been a while since he’d run his hands through a woman’s hair, but he resisted the urge to do it now.

  “Glasses,” he said, focusing his attentions on the bag instead of Holly. He pulled a pair of bright red sunglasses out of the bag and held them out to her.

  She grimaced. “I’m going to look ridiculous.”

  Impossible. “But you won’t look like you.” Before she could offer further objections, he slipped the glasses onto her face and smiled. He didn’t have to make an effort—the smile came of its own free will. “Perfect.”

  She met his gaze with hers and in that second he knew he wasn’t simply referring to the outfit. They stared for what felt like an entire day but was probably only a matter of seconds. She licked her lips, telling him she too was thinking illicit thoughts about kissing.

  But he couldn’t. He looked at his watch and muttered, “Shall we go?”

  Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her stance deflate slightly, but she spoke with a spring in her voice that made him wonder if he was imagining it all. “I’ll just go check the mirror.”

  She turned in the direction of Bec’s bathroom and he resisted the urge to follow her, choosing instead to scoff down a cream puff and drink some of Bec’s coffee.

  Holly returned about a minute later. Victory lifted his chest to see the disguise still firmly in place, but discomfort filled him at the whole situation.

  As if sensing he were having second thoughts, she asked, “Are you sure you want to do this with me?”

  Hell yeah. Because right now, the alternatives were too damn dangerous. Despite the many reasons his mind listed for him to stay away, his body had ideas of its own.

  How things could change in a matter of days.

  Chapter Seven

  Holly tried not to stare at the now strange-looking and totally enigmatic man walking alongside her but she was completely bewildered by what he had done. Disguises? Taking her sight-seeing? Geez, she could be forgiven for thinking he actually liked her. The fluttering in her stomach as he’d looked down at her after helping with the wig had spread like wildfire throughout her body—sensations that told her she was getting in too deep. And way over her head. She had to get a grip.

  She shouldn’t be so pleased about spending the day with him. It could only lead to heartbreak.

  It would be best to thank Nate for his kindness but to explain she’d rather do the sight-seeing thing on her own. Best, but completely untrue. And completely impossible.

  Last night he’d given her a glimpse into a fascinating man. Then returning to Bec’s with a wig and crazy glasses showed—whether he’d ever admit it or not—that he cared about her comfort and safety. He knew how uncomfortable she was about this whole being recognized as Daisy’s sister scenario. He got her, and that got to her.

  As if these actions weren’t enough, he surprised her by suggesting they start their day at the Autry National Center.

  “Have you been here much before?” she asked as they walked toward the building.

  “Once. On a field trip before I dropped out of school. I think I’ll appreciate it more now and I thought it’d be up your alley.”

  “It was on my list.” She only hoped he’d put up with the time she’d want to spend at each exhibition. American culture and history was one area she’d never spent as much time studying as she’d like.

  Excitement pumped through her veins as she gazed at all that was on offer. “I could spend a week here,” she said, staring at a map of the museum.

  “Let’s start with today.” And he leaned over her shoulder to look too.

  She breathed in his unique scent—a combination of soap and coffee—and reveled in the sensation that flooded her body at the aroma.

  They headed to the “Community” exhibition first. Holly liked the idea of seeing American history from the perspective of different racial, ethnic and religious communities. Nate favored quirky exhibits, such as a 1900s serving platter showcasing a brewing company’s early advertising, and a wooden sculpted doll with a man’s head and a woman’s full skirt.

  They trekked from gallery to gallery, barely noticing another soul as they oohed and ahhed over artifacts and discussed their views on the conflicts that arose when the West was settled in America.

  He was so knowledgeable on the history of his country, she couldn’t help but voice her surprise at his earlier confession. “I can’t believe you dropped out of school. Your parents must have been devastated.”

  “My dad was the reason I had to,” he said dryly.

  “What do you mean?” she asked simply. Over the last twenty-four hours, he’d surprised her at every opportunity and she desperately wanted to know what had shaped him into the charismatic man he was today.

  In front of a restored nineteenth century stage coach, he shared a smidgen of his past. “My dad was a hopeless provider and someone had to look after my mom and sisters.”

  He paused and looked around as if he didn’t want to share this with anyone else. “When I was fifteen, I saw a TV documentary about the paparazzi and my mind boggled at the money that was to be made. As I told you before, I stole my dad’s camera and started sneaking out at night on weekends. Within months I was making more money on each photo than my dad ever hoped to. I spent my weekends stalking famous people and discovered I had the knack. I spent less and less time at school and more time on the streets. Eventually my grades suffered and when a teacher confronted me, I didn’t see the point in continuing. I could provide for my mom and sisters without being an academic.”

  “Do you regret leaving school?”

  “I regret feeling dumb when I meet smart people like you, but I’ve read lots over the years and traveled widely. I don’t feel I missed out on too much.”

  Holly could tell he was one of the most intelligent and world-savvy men she’d ever met. “When did you stop taking paparazzi shots?”

  “About five years ago. An actress saw a photo I’d taken of her in a magazine and thought it was the best she’d ever seen of herself. She contacted me and asked if I’d shoot her portfolio. The idea sparked from there.” He paused, then confessed, “I wasn’t ever a hundred percent comfortable with what I was doing. It was always only a means to an ends, the best way I could see to make money for my family.”

  She nodded, understanding. “Did your father ever find out about the camera?”

  Nate looked straight ahead. “Yep.”

  Holly’s breath caught in her throat as she waited for the story, but it didn’t come.

  Obviously changing the subject, he pointed to a statue in colonial gear across the room. His hands gently clamped her arms as
he ushered her over to look at it. Pleasant shivers flooded from her spine right out to her extremities. It was all Holly could do to focus on the exhibit, instead of turn around and focus on Nate.

  She was all too aware that whatever she’d looked at today, he stood dangerously close behind her. More than once he’d accidentally brushed past her and her nerves had tingled at the exchange. At least, she’d assumed it was an accident at first. But as the day progressed, Holly wasn’t so sure. The connections were happening too often to be mistakes. Could he possibly be feeling the attraction too?

  Although she normally thrived on this kind of place, she found herself distracted. She’d probably regret not scrutinizing every exhibit later but she couldn’t ignore the feelings Nate caused.

  After a couple of hours, his stomach growled and they decided to go for lunch.

  “The zoo’s not far from here and they do a great hot dog and fries there,” he said.

  Holly hoped cute and fuzzy little animals would have a better chance of captivating her attentions away from Nate. “Sounds good.”

  He glanced at his watch as they headed for the exit. “It shuts at five, so we won’t have time to see everything.”

  “That’s okay. I didn’t think I’d get the chance to go at all.”

  As they stepped outside into the afternoon sun, Nate put his palm on the small of her back and led her down the path. Holly pushed away the surreal feeling of normalness that came with being with him. Normal fabulous that is. They weren’t a couple and she’d do well to remember that. He probably flirted with all the women he came into contact with—the girls in the restaurant last night proved it. He’d openly admitted not liking them and yet he hadn’t let it show in his interactions. It was just his way.

  After a short walk, they arrived at the Los Angeles Zoo.

  “Looks more like an amusement park than an animal sanctuary,” Holly commented as she gazed upward. She marveled at the big white letters above the entrance. Like everything in this city, the sign loomed large and high, and below stood the expected forest of palm trees.

  They trekked past animal enclosures, slowing at the animals Holly hadn’t seen before or those that were rare in Australian zoos. A big sign pointed them in the direction of the Invertebrates. Nate urged her past.

  “What?” she said. “I’d love to see a tarantula. I read you have them here.”

  Nate went visibly pale. “I’ll wait outside.”

  “Oh my gosh.” She couldn’t hide her surprise or her amusement. “Are you scared of spiders?”

  He tried to brush her off with a shake of his head. “Those things aren’t spiders. They’re beasts. I’m not afraid of them but neither do I need to look at them.”

  Holly couldn’t hide her smile. This big, strapping man who appeared so in control of himself and his world had a fear of arachnids. She found it sweet. And it made him seem more human.

  She shrugged. “I don’t need to see them. Let’s keep to the furry or feathery animals today.”

  By the time they arrived at the Gorilla Grill, a cafe that served Nate’s longed-for hot dogs and other fast food, his color had almost returned. He ordered two hot dogs, a massive serving of fries and two chocolate milkshakes.

  Finally, they had their food and selected an outdoor table directly opposite the gorilla exhibit. Loud screams and ooh-ing noises permeated the air, making it difficult to carry on a conversation. She glanced sideways, wondering if he’d done these sorts of things with Daisy.

  “Why didn’t you tell Bec about you and Daisy?” she asked before she could stop herself.

  He stopped chewing midmouthful, frowned and then quickly finished his bite. “What do you mean?”

  “Bec seemed surprised when I mentioned your relationship with Daisy.”

  Nate’s eyes widened as if he might choke. “Who told you I was in a relationship with Daisy?”

  Holly frowned and racked her mind for the information. “Well, Ruby mentioned she stayed over a fair bit and you said…you said you two were…friends.”

  He ran a hand through his hair and sighed. “Calling what we had a relationship would probably be stretching things. I’m not a relationship kind of guy.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  She stared at him waiting for an explanation. A lump moved up the column of his throat and he flushed a little. “We had an arrangement.”

  The way he said arrangement, sent a wicked warmth flooding to Holly’s nether regions. “Oh, my… You mean…?” She gulped and took a long sip of her milkshake.

  He nodded. “Neither Daisy nor I were in the market for commitment. She had her reasons. I have mine, but that didn’t mean we wanted to deny ourselves certain things.”

  Holly should have been put off by this confirmation he’d been with her sister, instead she wondered who was meeting his needs now? She bit her tongue to stop herself asking if the position was still vacant. She shouldn’t feel such strong pulls of attraction to him, especially when he’d just confirmed he’d been with Daisy.

  She focused on her drink, sucking hard. As if he would consider her anyway!

  His velvet voice washed over her. “Probably sounds strange, but we were friends too. We both knew where we stood.”

  “You don’t need to explain to me,” she rushed, unsure whether she was pleased, revolted or jealous by his announcement. Aware that, whatever the emotion, she had no right to feel it or to judge him for the choices he’d made.

  “Well, you asked.”

  “So I did.” Her cheeks burned and Holly couldn’t deny she wasn’t embarrassed but green. Envious that, once again, Daisy had sexual confidence enough to take what she could from a gorgeous man like Nate Devlin without wanting complications.

  She glanced at Nate—copping a side-shot view of his sculpted jaw and five o’clock shadow. She had a foolish urge to reach out and trail her nail seductively down his cheek, to lean close and press her lips against his. Instead, she turned away to look straight ahead. She couldn’t bare the humiliation if he rejected her.

  She’d watched her sister flit from boy to boy throughout high school and beyond, but she’d never wanted to be like that. Sure, she’d been jealous of the attention bestowed upon Daisy from members of the opposite sex, but Holly had been the one to secure the love of a man who offered commitment. A man who offered her the chance to have a loving, normal family. At least she’d thought she had until…

  * * *

  Nate stared at Holly wondering what spiraled through that pretty little mind of hers. She hadn’t said a word since he’d explained his relationship with Daisy. He’d never needed to defend his actions to anyone but right now he wished Holly would speak. For some perverse reason, he didn’t want her thinking badly of him.

  Come on, say something.

  Her mouth clamped the straw of her shake like it was a lifeline, her perfectly delicious lips filling with blood. And all he could think about was kissing them.

  When she put the drink down, the thought that had been invading his sanity all day finally conquered.

  He reached his arm around the back of her neck, slipped his fingers up into her wig and leaned toward her. Not thinking about the ramifications he touched his lips against hers, tentatively at first, unsure whether she’d slap him or respond.

  A tiny moan escaped her mouth as she met his kiss with a surprising but arousing intensity. The sound tipped the lust and desire that had been building up in his body all day barreling over the edge. Both his hands now tangling in the hair of the wig, he deepened the kiss, teasing his tongue along her lips and encouraging them to part. When they did, her tongue danced with his and his breathing came in short, shallow jolts. The desire to take their kiss to the next level threatened to overcome him.

  Just as his hands began to trek down her face, her neck, anticipating going further, a camera flashed mere inches from his face.

  Nate’s chest tightened as he tore his mouth from Holly’s and pulled back. He rushed to locate the
culprit, ready to plant his fist in the face of whatever scum had tracked them here.

  His fist stopped short as he registered the owner of the camera—a short, sweet-faced old Asian woman.

  “I so sorry,” said the equally short but stouter man beside her. “My wife like romance. She want to photograph your kiss.”

  The old couple looked harmless enough and although frustration swelled within, the tension in him eased a little. “No thanks.” Nate shook his head. “We don’t want to be photographed.”

  “Can I see?” Holly asked, standing up and gesturing to the woman’s camera. Nate noticed she didn’t meet his eye, all too eager to focus on the screen the smiling woman held out to her. Usually he’d be interested in checking out any camera, but right now he just wanted these presumptuous tourists to evaporate.

  He watched Holly and the woman, a fragment of a smile lifting Holly’s lips as she looked at the photo. His body ached when he thought about kissing that mouth. His brain ached too. How could he let his dick overrule him? He was only here because of Daisy.

  Holly thanked the woman.

  She turned back to him as the couple strolled away. Her cheeks were the color of raspberry bubble gum. She fingered her short, bright red wig and smiled in a way she hadn’t done before. A relaxed, happy smile—in dire opposition to how he felt.

  “I’d quite forgotten we were wearing these,” she said.

  “I hadn’t.” He scratched furiously at his and yanked the top button of his short-sleeved shirt undone, feeling as if he had something to prove and suddenly wanting to punish her for crushing his self-control.

  Daisy. He’d only ever sought Holly out to confront her about Daisy and now things were getting out of control. Daisy had been banished as if the topic were taboo—his loyalties had been shot to pieces in favor of his libido. No more.

  “We’ve have to go. There’s something you need to see.”

  Chapter Eight

  Nate took Holly to the heart of L.A. tourism—the Hollywood Walk of Fame. As they strode up the boulevard toward the famous stars with what had to be hundreds of other people, he gripped her hand to make sure she stayed with him and also to keep her close in case of more paparazzi attention. He tried to ignore the sensations that sloshed through his body at the feel of her dainty hand and snow-soft skin in his.